Local Pick-Up Only Auction

A question about : Local Pick-Up Only Auction

Hi Guys, I have seen an item that I really need, only problem is that it is 'collection only' and based in Newport

Is it possible to get a courier company to pick it up from the seller? without them having to take it to a collection point or pay for anything?

Only other alternative I have found is going to Cardiff for Ј2.50 return - but it is a 12 hour journey there and back, and only a 45 min window before I have to get on the return coach

Best answers:

• I don't see why you can't arrange the courier yourself and ask them to pick up the parcel from the seller's address. (I've asked a courier to pick an item up from me at my office before! It's different from my home address, so it shouldn't be a problem.)
  The only problem I forsee is that you would need to liase with the seller to make sure they are at home when the courier arrives to collect - not sure if there would be any penalties if the courier turns up and there is no one there.
  You also have to rely that the parcel is adequately wrapped - the courier 'may' have conditions that they won't accept parcels that aren't adequately wrapped.
  BTW, I don't think 45 minutes is going to be enough time to get from Cardiff to Newport and back....
  Cheers,
  Don
• As Don says a courier might not be interested in an unwrapped item and as the seller is selling on the basis of collection only he might be unwilling to pack it for collection.
  A colleague at work listed a large item a few months back on the basis that she didn't want to pack it or wrap it all, she just wanted someone to come and take it away. She did have several prospective buyers e mail and ask about courier collection but she told them that if she had wanted to pack it then she would have sold it with delivery by courier in the first place. In the end it didn't sell on ebay and she sold it for a higher amount through her local paper where someone turned up with a Bedford van to collect it just as she wished.
  Try talking to the seller, there might be a compromise that you can sort out but whatever you do don't bid on the basis that you can negotiate later.
  Good luck, it is frustrating though isn't it when you see something and just can't figure out how to get to it.
  Soo
• Thanks for the tips guys
  it's only an ickle'ish baby carrier that converts into a buggy - didn't think it would be too much trouble to post it. Will contact buyer to see if something can be arranged.
• If you SHOUT loud enough, someone on here who lives in Newport may collect it for you ;D
• God would be ever so grateful if someone would post it over for me ;D
  It’s a backpack/stroller 2in1 and we really need it (1st family holiday). Found one in the US, currently $5, postage is $47 - no bids so far, seller has said that I am the only person interested so far and that she would lower the 'buy it now' price to $55 from $60 - don't see why I should pay $55 when I can bid $5 for it :-/ Am also worried that it will take too long or even get lost – it has happened before and I never got my money back, then the seller re-sold the items > and eBay didn’t do jack about it >. Rant over :
  The one in Newport (cardiff) is new and has rain covers which the US one lacks :-/
  So, who do I have to grovel too ;D ;D
• I'll post a request in the Arms ;D
• You'll be glad when you find out who it is ;D
• awww Troo, just saw the post on the arms .... got caught up replying to G_F's post :-/ You're soooo sweet :-*
  Diva ..... is it someone I know really really well? I feel awful asking someone to do that for me ..... but I sure as hell will be glad .... my back will anyway ;D carrying baby round Venice not much fun, plus am freaking out about her jumping in to the 'big bath'
• ;D ;D ;D
  When does the auction end Ally?
• I would caution about asking someone to colllect this for you as it does rather put that person in an awkward position if the item is not as described, or if you can't collect it immediately from them and they have to store it.
  Are you intending to pay for the item before collection or pay the person collecting it so they can pay on your behalf? What happens if the person collecting gets there and the item is marked or not as described or smells of cigarette smoke?
  How are you going to collect from the person picking it up for you, I imagine that you won't expect the person collecting it to arrange packaging and lug it to the post office or anything? Collecting it from that person yourself still involves you in a long round trip so I can't see what you are gaining really.
  It might be better to try and source this item more local to you, get in touch with the local NCT and see if they have a list of items for sale from their members. The saving on this item might turn out to be a false saving if you still have to factor in your travelling to collect from the person picking it up for you, giving them something as a thank you for collecting it, storing it and waiting in for you to collect it.
  Soo
• Finally got a reply from the seller .... courier is possible, but at a cost :-/ Still it is something that we need .... will see how it goes.
  Soo .... re: someone collecting the item, which was suggested to me, of course I would have paid them for their time and effort & postage and packaging costs : I wouldn't be so silly as to expect someone to go to that much trouble for me without some form of reward. Although I am sure that there are many lovely MSE'ers who would still do it without the reward ;D
  Nevertheless, it was a lovely suggestion ... and thank you all for your help Fingers crossed hey ;D
• I just noticed as well that this auction still has 4 days to go and since most people only bid at the last moment i would suggest that you have a figure in your head which includes the cost of the courier, and make sure you don't get carried away if you get a rival bidder.
  I've checked the completed items for this type of thing and there have been no other UK sales for anything like this recently so there is no way of guessing before hand whether it will go for the opening bid or whether there are people watching it like you who will bid at the last moment. On the basis that the seller is happy to discuss a courier for you I would suppose she hasn't got any other 'watchers' showing in her 'my ebay' and is anticipating that it will go to you for the opening bid.
  Good luck and let us know how you get on.
  Soo
• Thanks Soo,
  Am going to have another look at the others that Bargainbabe listed for me, get an idea of what prices they went for (around Ј40-Ј50 all inclu) - then get a price in my head and will try damn hard not to bid over. She said courier is approx Ј15, not exactly, so could be higher :-/
  When bidding last minute ..... should I put in my maximum bid first? or the asking price, then maximum bid ??? Just wondering if I put my maximum bid, and no one else bids, will it be sold to me for the maximum bid, or the starting bid? Does that make any sense at all - 'cos I have managed to confuse myself ;D
  Cheers hun :-*
• Hi Ally,
  You can put in your proxy bid (ie highest bid) whenever you want and your winning bid will be the lowest that could win the auction. Hmm, I think that is as clear as mud! :-)
  Basically if you bid Ј50.01 (one tip is always to bid an odd amount as many people bid in round amounts so your 1p extra could tip it in your favour) but there are no other bidders you would win the auction at the opening bid of Ј15.
  Soo
• Thanks Soo .... you're a star
  Will see how it goes.
• Hi Ally, I see the auction has finished did you win it OK?
  Soo